Political Crossfire Forums

[Pebble]

Bascially what power (s) should the Northern Ireland assembely have?

Currently they posses the ability, when not suspended, to control the following:

'Transferred matters'

Education
Health
Agriculture
Enterprise, trade and investment
The environment
Regional development
Transport
Water
Culture, arts and leisure


The following matters are reserved by the British government, but may be transferred at a later date:

'Reserved matters'

Criminal law
Police
Postage
Navigation and civil aviation
International trade
Telecommunications
The foreshore and sea bed
Disqualification from Assembly membership
Consumer safety
Financial services and markets
Intellectual property
National minimum wage



The following are matters that are reserved indefinately for Westminster:

'Excepted matters'

Royal succession
International relations
Defence and armed forces
Nationality, immigration and asylum
Taxes levied across the United Kingdom as a whole
Appointment of senior judges
All elections held in Northern Ireland
Currency
Conferring of honours
Outer space
Weapons of mass destruction





Bills made by the assembley are subject to judicial reveiw, they can be struck down if they are found to be outside the bounds of the powers of the assembely, if they contravene European law, or the European Convention on Human Rights, or they are found to discriminate on grounds of political or religious belief.


Is the current system fair? Do they deserve more/less power, discuss.

[De Bhaldraithe]

Maith thú! Very good indeed. Did you create this yourself or did you use a resource? Very impressed. :)

[Pebble]

De Bhaldraithe wrote: Maith thú! Very good indeed. Did you create this yourself or did you use a resource? Very impressed. :)

I must confess I thieved most of it from wikipedia, but I formatted it slightly and deciphered the limitations part all by myslef. :)

[De Bhaldraithe]

Pebble wrote:
'Reserved matters'

Criminal law
Police
Postage
Navigation and civil aviation
International trade
Telecommunications
The foreshore and sea bed
Disqualification from Assembly membership
Consumer safety
Financial services and markets
Intellectual property
National minimum wage



Policing, I believe, is to be devolved should the executive be formed in the upcoming months. This has been a bit of bait to keep the shinners in tune. I think though that before it is devolved the DUP will make sure the shinners have joined the policing board. It'll be interesting to see who jumps first - not that I'm entertaining the thought of the DUP compromising.

If they do get this power, I wonder what changes the executive would make to policing - will Patten finally be implemented? Will the DUP stand in the way of Patten being fully implemented? Will the government see the inevitable bickering and withdraw the offer of this power?

Looking at that list you've made up, I was interested to see "Disqualification from Assembly Membership." :lol:
It'd produce a laughable scenario if that power were to be devolved. Could you imagine the amount of unionist efforts to expel any shinner with even a slight reason.

If I thought that this power could be handled effectively, I'd be interested to see how it would be implemented. I should think any effort at expulsion would involve a "rubber-stamping" from the assembly. I wonder how powerful the executive would be over the assembly in taking the decisons. I suppose it wouldn't matter that much because politicians here are so partisan.